Dr. George C. Leef--born Feb. 4, 1951 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. B.A. from Carroll
College, Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1973. J.D. from Duke University Law School in 1977. Worked
for Milliken & Co. 1977-1979. Taught economics, law, logic and philosophy at Northwood
University 1980-1989 with rank of assistant professor. Labor Law Policy Advisor to
Michigan Senate Programs & Policies Staff, 1989-1990. Legislative Aide to Michigan
State Senator David Honigman, 1991-1996. Adjunct Scholar with Mackinac Center for Public
Policy, 1988 to present. Former President of Patrick Henry Associates; Liberty
consultants, East Lansing, Michigan. Currently, vice president of the Pope Center
for the Study of Higher Education in North Carolina.

He is author of a forthcoming book entitled Labor Law Versus Liberty; he is also
the book review editor for The Freeman and has written essays for The Wall
Street Journal, the Detroit Free Press, and The Detroit News. He
also lecturs and debates frequently on a variety of topics involving the economic and
moral virtues of freedom and the harms of statism.

Much has been written on the failure of collegiate "schools of education" to properly prepare future teachers for the classroom. Now a new study highlights the good job that Teach for America, a private teacher program, is doing to place thousands of qualified and talented volunteer teachers in some of the nation's most troubled schools. … more

A strong knowledge of sound economic principles is not only important in the
twenty-first century global marketplace, it is essential for the maintenance of a free
society. Are Michigan high school students being taught what they need to know in order to
succeed and prosper?
This review of 16 of the most commonly used economics textbooks in Michigan high
schools uses 12 criteria-including issues of trade, taxation, and the role of
government-to evaluate which texts are and are not effective at presenting students with a
balanced and accurate perspective on the modern market economy. Each text is graded, from
A to F, on its ability to clearly instruct students in the "economic way of
thinking."
An abridged 27-page written copy of the report may be ordered normally, or the full
reviews of each textbook may be downloaded at no charge via www.mackinac.org. … more

Some unions "salt" nonunion firms by forcing them to hire union sympathizers or even paid union organizers in an attempt to force them to unionize. This abuse means higher prices for consumers and loss of freedom for nonunion firms and their workers. … more

Legislation to create tax-levying "cultural districts" would make art more of a political decision and less of a personal one. The arts can and should be supported privately, as increasingly demonstrated by Lansing's WKAR public television and the Detroit Institute of Arts. … more

Export subsidies are an example of corporate welfare that benefits a few at the expense of the many. Well over 99 percent of Michigan exports are made without the help of this special favors program. … more

Is the hiring of workers to replace striking employees a moral decision, a business concern, or both? A look at the inherent rights of workers and freedom of contract resolves the matter easily. … more

A Michigan statute that protects lawyers from competition contributes to sky-high attorney fees that burden the average consumer and prevents many poor people from affording simple legal services. … more

Michigan is winning the battle to control its workers' compensation costs. It is time to celebrate that success, and take the next steps for improvement. Progress can still be made in getting the injured back to work and screening out dubious claims. … more

Our state constitution would be improved if it incorporated provisions to restrict the state's ability to dictate terms of private contracts, protect and enhance educational freedom, and limit regulatory "takings" of private property. … more

Michigan's bureaucratic regulation of the intrastate trucking industry is not intended to protect the general public from harm. Rather, it is intended to protect existing truckers from aggressive competition in a free market. The sad case of a Grand Rapids company, Federal Armored, proves it. … more

Thanks to a 1937 law requiring state printing be done according to "prevailing wages," Michigan pays one-third more for printing lottery tickets than Indiana, Kentucky, and New York. Repealing it would save taxpayers more than $2 million. … more

Today, too many students have poor reading and writing skills, little motivation to learn, and minimal ability to reason. When East Harlem, New York, adopted a choice plan, student motivation and academic achievement improved dramatically. … more

Special interest regulations have created a trucking cartel in Michigan that raises consumer costs, makes many Michigan firms uncompetitive with those in neighboring states and even increases air pollution. … more